Radio telegraph concentrator



June 4, 1935. v H. BROWN RADIO TELEGRAPH CONCENTRATOR 2 shew-sheet 1 Filed Feb. l5, 1933 INVENTOR V//mSA/ aka/1W BY g ATTORNEY June 4, 1935. v H BRQWN 2,003,425 RADIO TELEGAPH CONGENTBATOR Filed Feb. l5, 1955 2 Sheets-$18613 2 as/EMM INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE Patented June 4, 1935 l 2,003,425 RADIO TELEGRAPH ooNoEN'rnAToa* Vincent H. Brown, Ozone Park, N. Y., assignorrto Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware 1 Claim.

This invention comprises a radiol telegraph' switchboard and associated equipment for concentrating at a single point radio telegraph messages received from a plurality of remote receivers, whereby any one of a plurality of operators may have access to an incoming call in a convenient and emcient manner.

In the radio communication art it is general practice at the present time to route incoming telegraph messages to individual receiving apparatuses, or to individual operators for recording purposes. The operator, in such case, located at a position has access to only a single incoming line and, if the line is busy only at intervals, he must continually change his position to attend to other calls.

By means of the present invention, however, an operator is enabled to receive all incoming radio calls at a single position and to select from them any one he may choose to answer. In brief, this is effected by means of a radio switchboard or concentrator to which all incoming calls are routed. There is thus obtained a switchboard for radio telegraph calls which is as convenient and eifective as those used for telephone systems.

The incoming lines from the remote radio receiving stations are multipled at a plurality of positions in order to give all operators access t0 the calling stations. A glow discharge lamp comprised of a suitable inert gas, such as neon or argon, is bridged across each line to indicate its condition. If the station connected to a line is calling, then the glow lamp will flash in accordance with the signals received. Associated with each line at each position is a keyV which, when actuated, enables the operator to listen to the message signals by means of a pair of headphones. A small lamp individual to and adjacent each key is arranged to light up when the key is actuated in order to indicate to the other operators that the call is being answered.

One advantage of this invention is that there are obtained at the switchboard both audible and visual indications of the received signal characters.

A feature of the invention is the circuit used which permits both of these types of indications at the board.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, several positions of a radio operating switchboard or concentrator embodying the principles of the present invention, and

Figure 2 illustrates another and a preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure 3 shows the circuit used which is individual to each line for receiving the incoming calls and transferring' them to the switchboard.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, Figure l shows two positions I and 2 of a radio concentrator or switchboard at which operators may be seated for receiving incoming radio telegraph signals from remote receiving stations connected to the switchboard. Each operator may be provided with a chair or stool 4 which may be located in front of the positions. At each position and individual to each receiving line are provided keys 5 for connecting the operators headphones 2U with any desired incoming line according to the particular key which may be actuated by the attendant. These keys are multipled at each position for enabling each operator to answer any desired incoming call. Associated with each of these keys and located immediately adjacent thereto is a lamp 6 which is arranged to light upon the actuation of its associated key for informing operators at other positions that the calls over a particular line are being answered. Each incoming line has associated therewith a glow discharge lamp 1, preferably of neon or argon, which lights upon the receipt of a call and flashes in accordance with the signal characters received, thus giving a visual signal to the operators that a station is calling.

If it is desired to transmit to the calling station there may be provided at the switchboard in a convenient location between receiving operators, as shown, transmitter controls, either hand operated or of the automatic type, ras indicated by printer 8.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the invention wherein the glow lamps 1, keys 5, and busy lamps 6 are supported in vertical panels 9. This embodiment is preferred since it possesses the advantage of providing a more convenient means of observing the signal and busy lamps and less opportunity for actuating the wrong key, inasmuch as each key in this case is located directly in line with its associated lamps. yOther features, suchas a card IS having printed thereon the call letters of each transmitting station, may be conveniently arranged on the switchboard, if desired.

In Figure 3 is shown a circuit which may be used for receiving the signal characters and forwarding them to the switchboard. The incoming signals received over an antenna II and through transformer I2 are 'amplified by a receiving amplifier I3 at the distant receiving station before being impressed on a land line I4 for transmission to station l1 at which the switchboard is located. At the station I1 the incoming signals are amplified by apparatus I5 which is arranged in a manner well known in the art to provide in its output circuit both direct current and audible current in accordance with the received signals, the direct current for lighting the glow made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Y

I claim:

The combination with a radio telegraph switchboard having an incoming line and a glow lamp individual to said line and arranged to light up on the receipt of signals at said switchboard from over said line, a key and a busy lamp also individual to said line, said busy lamp functioning to light up only during the actuation of said key, and a translating device in circuit with said key arranged to bridge said line at said switchboard upon the actuation of said key, of an automatic recorder, and' switching mechanism intermediate said line and said switchboard, said mechanism functioning in one position to connect said line to said switchboard and in another position to `connect said line to said recorder.

VINCENT H. BROWN. 

